Aston Villa vs Tottenham: Match preview

Two of the League Cup's most successful clubs face each other tonight, when Aston Villa host Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park.

Spurs look to rest a host of stars, as manager Andre Villas-Boas bemoaned the scheduling of the League Cup saying it would be 'putting players careers at risk'. Paul Lambert will also field an unrecognisable side from the one that won at Norwich on Saturday, but not out of choice - Villa could be missing up to 10 players through injury.

Saturday's hero Libor Kozak should start, with both Benteke and Agbonlahor out through injury, and will be hoping to show the Villa fans why Lambert paid £5 million for him in the summer.

Delph, Westwood, Luna, and Clark are also all doubtful, and will most probably not be risked as the side face a huge game against Manchester City on the weekend.

Tottenham are in much better health, only Jermain Defoe is out with injury, but a host of others won't be risked as Villas-Boas focuses on maintaining a start which has seen his side win four of their first five league games.

Vlad Chiriches is poised to start in defence, while record-signing Erik Lamela could also start for the Lilywhites.

Both sides were beaten by Manchester United in the final of this competition in consecutive years, Spurs in 2009, and Villa in 2010. Tottenham did however win the cup in 2008, but despite winning it five-times, you have to go back to 1996 to find the last time they won it.

However, both teams will earmark this as a trophy they can triumph in, especially with the likes of Swansea and Birmingham winning it in recent years.

Villa have won eight of their last nine League Cup fixtures at home, but face a side who have conceded just one goal this season - Oliver Giroud's goal for Arsenal in the North London Derby.

The Lilywhites have also won their last four trips to the Midlands club, including a 4-0 demolition here on Boxing Day last year.

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DISCLAIMER

This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeSport Writing Academy and does not represent the views of
GiveMeSport.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article.
GiveMeSport.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.

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